The Rioja Peronism, backed by Governor Ricardo Quintela, finally won the legislative elections held on October 26 by only 782 votes, after the final count was announced yesterday. According to the final data, the 'Federales Defendamos La Rioja' (DLR) front obtained 90,686 votes, while 'La Libertad Avanza' (LLA) secured 89,804. However, the two seats contested in the province for the Chamber of Deputies were split between the Peronist Gabriela Pedrali and the libertarian Gino Visconti.
One of the reasons LLA focused on this province is linked to the figure of Martín Menem, who was their unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2023, and there are possibilities he may run again in 2027. Regarding this issue, the provincial legislator elected for LLA and former administrative secretary in the Chamber of Deputies, Diego Molina Gómez, stated that in the next elections, the candidate for governor must be Menem again because 'he shouldered the campaign'. In the same vein, he described him as the 'leader' of the libertarian movement in the province and showed the full support of the political front.
Finally, for LLA it was important to win in La Rioja, as Quintela is one of the most critical opposition governors of President Javier Milei.
